November 1975

Household circuit safety systems

Fuses and circuit breakers in your electrical entrance box act as safety valves to protect your wiring system. When the fuse blows or the circuit breaker opens, there are two possible causes: a current overload or a short circuit.

How to be a better bulb buyer

To get the best lighting for your money-- both in bulb value and energy use efficiency-- it's important that you understand two basic principles. First, no one type of bulb is inherently better than another; what's important is to choose the type of bulb that's best suited to a specific situation.

How to get the best buys in toys

Ready to shop for Christmas toys? At this time of year they're top priority on the family shopping list. Remember, toys have a way of hanging around longer than you may think when you buy them, so it's smart to toyshop with an eye to value.

How to order material from the magazine

The Bicentennial Games from Better Homes and Gardens bring the nation's history to life. There are three games in one package for ages eight and up. They're exciting, challenging to play and also informative and educational. Included are three brightly colored boards, playing pieces, game cards, a score pad, and an educational history book.

... YOU ... THAT WINE...

Macrame plant hangers

Why pay exorbitant sums for decorative macrame plant hangers when even a novice knotter can whip one up for next to nothing in a couple of hours?

WHAT ARE YOUR RIGHTS WITH A LAWYER?

The value of a lawyer is that he is likely to have expertise you lack in matters crucial to your financial or personal well-being. That doesn't mean you need a lawyer for every single transaction you enter into. And don't believe anyone who tells you otherwise; it could easily cost you money unnecessarily.

The foldaway bed

Two-thirds of every day, the average bedroom serves as nothing more than a warehouse, quietly storing the bed for its eight-hour duty period. Meanwhile, the rest of the house faces increasing pressure to supply extra space for everything from a hobby center to a home office.

Buy Basic And Embellish

When the days grow short as you reach November, and you suddenly realize there's little time left to make all those special Christmas gifts you planned to start on last July, don't panic! There are lots of ways to create personalized, one-of-a-kind presents without having to burn that midnight oil all through the preholiday season.

Grow these beautiful plants to give

You can expand your holiday gift list and save a lot of money too by sharing starts from your own houseplants. Just put the young plants in simply trimmed pots and you have presents that are as personal as homemade jellies and jams.

NEW BEGINNINGS

A century ago a Swedish bride-to-be carefully packed a hand-crocheted warming wrap she had made herself into a trousseau trunk and set out for America. The warmer with its fine stitches and good, sensible design was so well made and useful it has served several lifetimes and is still a prized family heirloom. One very much like it is shown in the two photographs at right worn by Janet DeBard, great granddaughter of that Swedish immigrant.

RETREATED TIRES: ARE THEY BETTER THAN YOU THINK?

During their early years, retreaded tires acquired a reputation for unreliability that still haunts them.

What to do when you're out of outlets

Do you have more lamps and appliances to plug in than places to plug them? An almost infinite variety of products is available to solve your problem simply and, more important, safely.

GOOD NEWS

WIDE-OPEN KITCHENS

The walls are tumbling down! They're tumbling down between kitchens and family rooms, kitchens and dining rooms. Not only that, the division line between "cook" and "consumers" is tumbling, too. With today's casual life-styles, relaxed entertaining is on the rise and everyone gets in on the cooking fun.

HOW TO CURN ON A ROOM WITH LIGHT

On these eight pages we'll show you how light can make the difference between a so-so room and one that's truly spectacular. If you've always thought of lighting in terms of traditional lamps, you're about to discover some exciting alternatives. We'll show you how to achieve dozens of decorating effects easily-- and inexpensively--by using ordinary bulbs and sockets, fluorescent tubes, spots, canisters, and track lights. With just the flick of switch, you can make everyday surroundings exciting, charge the atmosphere with eye-catching interest, instill a room with drama, or focus attention on your favorite things.

Big City Weekend Vacations For Two

Part Two The pace of life in America's cities quickens in the fall. Cultural and sports seasons are under way. Stores, geared up for the big Christmas buying season, are at their most attractive. And the autumnal nip in the air renews appetites and interest in the fine dining to be found in many city restaurants.

Shopping editor's choice

Discover the ease and pleasure of shopping by mail. Order from the convenience of your own home with complete confidence. If not delighted each company will happily refund your money.

The Man Next Door

Grumpy Ned Carter vows that he'll vote tor the candidate who shows up last in the public opinion polls, since he can at least identify with that person.